After teaching students in the classroom for decades, some people’s work for education does not stop once they retire.
The North Central Montana Retired Educators Association held their annual distribution of school supplies and hygiene products for the Great Falls Public Schools on Wednesday.
They have distributed school supplies for over ten years, but added hygiene items about three years ago when they learned many middle and high school students didn’t attend school because of hygiene.
The association starts collecting items in the beginning of the school year when school supplies are cheaper. Many of the items are donated by the retired educators themselves.
Marilyn Hamer, the President of the North Central Montana Retired Educators, said, “We’re retired educators so we care what happens in the schools and we know from teaching that school supplies become very scarce at times and there are kids who come into schools that don’t have supplies.”
She added, “The schools are very excited. Sometimes, at this time of year, their school supplies are way down. Hygiene items are needed all year round.”
In the past, they have selected one high school, one middle school and three elementary schools to receive the donations.
This year, thanks to receiving donations both from the Thrivent Action Team and AARP Montana, they were able to buy more supplies than ever before.
Because of the extra supplies this year, they added one more elementary school and hygiene products for one more high school.
They have a chart that tracks which schools receive supplies each year.
The association has about 90 members. Any retired person who worked in the schools is invited to join the association.
